Positioning mechanism for travel bag retractable handle

ABSTRACT

A positioning mechanism mounted in a travel bag retractable handle for locking inner tube to a respective outer tube is disclosed to include a holder block member, a latch member horizontally supported on an elastic member and movable in and out of the holder block member, a push member coupled to and movable along a vertical track of the holder block member and supported on an elastic member at the top of the holder block and controllable by a spring-supported press member of the travel bag retractable handle to move the latch member in an out of the holder block member between an extended locking position and a received unlocking position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to travel bags and more particularly, to a positioning mechanism used in a retractable handle for travel bag, which comprises a holder block member affixed to a bottom end of an inner tube of a travel bag retractable handle, a latch member supported on an elastic member in a receiving chamber in the holder block member, and a push member vertically slidably coupled to the holder block member and supported on an elastic member at the top side of the holder block member and controllable by a spring-supported press member of the travel bag retractable handle to move the latch member in and out of the receiving member between a locking position and an unlocking position for allowing adjustment of the length of the travel bag retractable handle.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the rapid development of the society and rise in national income, the life-style of people has been fundamentally changed. Further, as transport vehicles become popular, safe, convenient and affordable than ever before, people may take public transportation to travel among different places for business or recreational purposes instead of one's own vehicle. When traveling, people usually use a travel bag to carry one's belongings.

A travel bag generally comprises a bag body defining an accommodation chamber between a bottom panel and a top cover panel thereof, a plurality of casters pivotally mounted at the bottom side of the bottom panel of the bag body, and a retractable handle provided at the back side of the bag body. The length of the retractable handle can be adjusted in one of a series of positions. After extended out the retractable handle, the user can carry the retractable handle to move the travel bag on the floor in a tilted or vertical condition conveniently with less effort. A retractable handle for use in a travel bag generally comprises a positioning mechanism located at the bottom end of each of two inner tubes thereof and movable between a locking position to lock the respective inner tube to a respective outer tube of the retractable handle and an unlocking position to unlock the respective inner tube from the respective outer tube by a respective link subject to the control of a spring-supported press member. However, conventional positioning mechanisms for travel bag retractable handle are still not satisfactory in function. If an excessive force is applied during application, the links of the retractable handle can easily be damaged.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a conventional travel bag retractable handle. According to this design, the travel bag retractable handle comprises an outer tube unit A, which comprise two outer tubes A1 each having a plurality of locating holes A11 spaced along the length thereof, an inner tube unit B, which comprises two inner tubes B1 respectively slidably inserted into the outer tubes A1, two links B3 respectively suspending in the inner tubes B1 and a spring-supported press member B2 disposed at the top side thereof of operable to move the links B3 axially in the respective inner tubes B1, and two positioning mechanisms C respectively mounted in the respective bottom ends of the inner tubes B1 and movable by the respective links B3 to lock the inner tube unit B to the outer tube unit A, or to unlock the inner tube unit B from the outer tube unit A. Each positioning mechanism C comprises a housing formed of a left cover shell C1 and a right cover shell C2, a latch C3 mounted in between the left cover shell C1 and the right cover shell C2, a first spring member C4 positioned between the inside wall of the left cover shell C1 and a locating groove C32 at the back side of the latch C3, a second spring member C6, and a push member C5 supported on the second spring member C6. The push member C5 has a bevel edge C51 located at a rear bottom side thereof and abutted against a bevel edge C34 at the front side of a top block C33 of the latch C3. Further, the latch C3 has a front latch tip C31 inserted through a hole C21 on the right cover shell C2 and a through hole B11 near the bottom end of the respective inner tube B1 of the inner tube unit B for engaging into one locating hole A11 of the respective outer tube A13 to lock the inner tube unit B to the outer tube unit A.

When the user presses the spring-supported press member B2 of the inner tube unit B to lower the links B3, the push member C5 will be lowered to force the bevel edge C51 thereof against the bevel edge C34 of the top block C33 of the latch C3, moving the latch C3 backwards to compress the second spring member C4 and to disengage the front latch tip C31 from the locating hole A11 of the respective outer tube A13, and therefore the inner tube unit B is unlocked from the outer tube unit A and movable relative to the outer tube unit A to adjust the length of the travel bag retractable handle. According to this design, the housing of each positioning mechanism C is formed of the aforesaid left cover shell C1 and right cover shell C2, and the manufacturing cost of the housing is high. Further, it requires much labor and time to assemble the component parts of each positioning mechanism C. Further, when moving the push member C5 downwardly against the latch C3, the left cover shell C1 can easily be forced apart from the right cover shell C2, affecting positioning reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a positioning mechanism for travel bag retractable handle, which has the characteristics of simple structure, low cost, ease of installation and positioning reliability.

To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a positioning mechanism is mounted in a bottom end of an inner tube of a retractable handle in a travel bag and stopped against a link in the inner tube of the retractable handle and movable with the link between a locking position to lock the inner tube to a respective outer tube of the retractable handle and an unlocking position to unlock the inner tube from the outer tube subject to the control of a spring-supported press member of the retractable handle. The positioning mechanism comprises a holder block member, a latch device, and an actuating device. The holder block member comprises a receiving chamber, a vertical insertion slot vertically cut through the top wall thereof in communication with the receiving chamber, and a vertical track vertically disposed at the back side thereof. The latch device comprises a latch member horizontally movable in and out of the receiving chamber between the locking position and the unlocking position, and an elastic member mounted in the receiving chamber and stopped against the latch member to support the latch member in the locking position. The latch member comprises two side guide blocks respectively disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof. The actuating device comprises a push member and an elastic member supported between the push member and the top wall of the holder block member to impart an upward pressure to the push member. The push member comprises two front arms vertically downwardly extended from a front side thereof in a parallel manner and vertically movably inserted into the vertical insertion slot of the holder block member, two flat guide blocks respectively located at an inner surface of each of the two front arms and respectively abutted against the side guide blocks of the latch member for moving the latch member in and out of the receiving chamber between the locking position and the unlocking position and two rear coupling arms vertically downwardly extended from a rear side thereof and coupled to and movable along the vertical track of the holder block member.

Further, each flat guide block of the push member defines a bottom bevel face. Further, each side guide block of the latch member defines a top bevel face mating with the bottom bevel face of one respective flat guide block of the push member. Further, the holder block member further comprises two vertical sliding slots defined in the vertical track in communication with the receiving chamber. Further, each rear coupling arm of the push member has a bottom end thereof terminating in a coupling tip that is coupled to and movable along one respective vertical sliding slot in the vertical track of the holder block member.

When the user presses the spring-supported press member of the retractable handle to lower the link in each inner tube, the push member of the positioning mechanism is lowered to force the bottom bevel faces of the flat guide blocks thereof against the top bevel faces of the side guide blocks of the latch member, moving the latch member from the extended locking position to the received unlocking position. When the user releases the hand from the spring-supported press member of the retractable handle, the elastic member of the latch device immediately returns the latch member from the received unlocking position to the extended locking position, and the elastic member of the actuating device immediately returns the push member to its former position.

Other advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood by reference to the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference signs denote like components of structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a positioning mechanism for travel bag retractable handle in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the positioning mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 when viewed from another angle.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the positioning mechanism in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing illustrating two positioning mechanisms installed in a retractable handle of a travel bag in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional applied view of the present invention, illustrating the push member lowered, the latch member moved from the extended locking position to the received unlocking position in the receiving chamber of the holder block member.

FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 7, illustrating the latch member moved from the received unlocking position to the extended locking position.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a conventional travel bag retractable handle.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a positioning mechanism for travel bag retractable handle according to the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a positioning mechanism for travel bag retractable handle in accordance with the present invention is shown. The positioning mechanism comprises a holder block member 1, a latch device 2, and an actuating device 3.

The holder block member 1 comprises a receiving chamber 11 defined in the inside thereof, a front opening 111 located at the front side thereof in communication with the receiving chamber 11, an inside stub rod 112 horizontally protruded from an inside wall of the receiving chamber 11 and aimed at the front opening 111, a vertical insertion slot 12 vertically cut through the top wall thereof in communication with the receiving chamber 11 and having two end portions 121 respectively perpendicularly extended from two distal ends thereof in a parallel manner, an outside stub rod 122 upwardly protruded from the top wall thereof at a rear side relative to the vertical insertion slot 12, a vertical track 13 vertically disposed at the back side thereof, at least one, for example, two vertical sliding slots 131 defined in the vertical track 13 in communication with the receiving chamber 11, a bottom flange 14 horizontally outwardly protruded from the periphery of the bottom side thereof, and a mounting through hole 15 transversely disposed between the receiving chamber 11 and the bottom flange 14.

The latch device 2 comprises a latch member 21, and an elastic member, for example, compression spring 23. The latch member 21 has two side guide blocks 211 disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof and defining a respective top bevel face 2111, a latch tip 22 forwardly extended from the front side thereof, and a recessed hole 212 located at the back side thereof. The compression spring 23 is positioned in the recessed hole 212.

The actuating device 3 comprises a push member 31 and an elastic member, for example, compression spring 34. The push member 31 comprises two front arms 32 vertically downwardly extended from the front side thereof in a parallel manner, a flat guide block 321 located at an inner surface of each of the front arms 32 and defining a bottom bevel face 3211 that fits the top bevel face 2111 of one respective side guide block 211 of the latch member 21, two rear coupling arms 33 vertically downwardly extended from the rear side thereof in a parallel manner and coupled to and movable along the vertical track 13 of the holder block member 1, and a bottom stub rod 311 protruded from the bottom wall thereof and spaced between the front arms 32 and the rear coupling arms 33. Each rear coupling arm 33 has the bottom end thereof terminating in a coupling tip 331 coupled to and movable along one respective vertical sliding slot 131 of the vertical track 13. The compression spring 34 is connected between the outside stub rod 122 of the holder block member 1 and the bottom stub rod 311 of the push member 31.

When assembling the positioning mechanism, attach the compression spring 23 of the latch device 2 to the recessed hole 212 and then insert the compression spring 23 and the latch member 21 horizontally through the front opening 111 of the holder block member 1 into the receiving chamber 11 to attach the compression spring 23 to the inside stub rod 112, and then insert the two front arms 32 of the push member 31 through the end portions 121 of the vertical insertion slot 12 of the holder block member 1 to abut the bottom bevel faces 3211 of the flat guide blocks 321 of the push member 31 against the respective top bevel faces 2111 of the side guide blocks 211 of the latch member 21 and to force the coupling tips 331 of the rear coupling arms 33 of the push member 31 into the respective vertical sliding slots 131 of the vertical track 13 of the holder block member 1 and, at the same time, to have the compression spring 34 be supported between the outside stub rod 122 of the holder block member 1 and the bottom stub rod 311 of the push member 31. Further, the push member 31 is elastically deformable so that the coupling tips 331 of the rear coupling arms 33 of the push member 31 can be conveniently coupled to the respective vertical sliding slots 131 of the vertical track 13 of the holder block member 1 after insertion of the two front arms 32 of the push member 31 into the end portions 121 of the vertical insertion slot 12 of the holder block member 1. Because the coupling tips 331 of the rear coupling arms 33 of the push member 31 are respectively inserted into the respective vertical sliding slots 131 of the vertical track 13 of the holder block member 1, the push member 31 can be moved up and down between opposing top and bottom ends of the vertical track 13 of the holder block member 1 and will not fall out of the holder block member 1. Further, the holder block member 1 is integrally made in one piece, saving the cost and facilitating installation. In one example of the present invention, the holder block member 1 is made of a plastic material by molding.

Referring to FIGS. 5-8, the invention is used in a retractable handle 4 of a travel bag 5. The retractable handle 4 comprises two outer tubes 41 affixed to the back panel of the travel bag 5 in a parallel manner, a grip 42, two inner tubes 420 respectively perpendicularly extended from two distal ends of the grip 42 and respectively inserted into the respective tube bodies 410 of the outer tubes 41, two links 423 respectively suspending in the inner tubes 420, a spring-supported press member 422 mounted at the grip 42 and pressable to move the links 423. Further, each outer tube 41 has a plurality of locating holes 411 transversely cut through the periphery of the tube body 410 thereof and disposed at different elevations. Further, each inner tube 420 has a through hole 421 transversely cut through the periphery and disposed near the bottom end thereof remote from the grip 42.

The positioning mechanism is installed in the bottom end of each inner tube 420 of the retractable handle 4. During installation, push the latch tip 22 to move the latch member 21 against the compression spring 23 toward the inside of the receiving chamber 11, and then insert the actuating device 3 with the holder block member 1 into the bottom open end of the respective inner tube 420 of the retractable handle 4 to the extent where the bottom flange 14 of the holder block member 1 is stopped at the bottom edge of the respective inner tube 420 of the retractable handle 4. At this time, the link 423 in the inner tube 420 is stopped at the push member 31, and the latch member 21 is forced outwardly by the compression spring 23 to insert the latch tip 22 through the through hole 421 of the respective inner tube 420 of the retractable handle 4. Thereafter, affix the mounting through hole 15 of the holder block member 1 to the respective inner tube 420 of the retractable handle 4 by a pin or rivet (not shown).

After installation of two positioning mechanisms in the respective bottom ends of the inner tubes 420 of the retractable handle 4, press the spring-supported press member 422 to lower the links 423, forcing the push member 31 against the latch member 21 to move the latch member 21 from an extended locking position to a received unlocking position, and then hold the spring-supported press member 422 in the pressed condition and insert the two inner tubes 420 into the respective outer tubes 41 to the position where the through holes 421 of the inner tubes 420 are respectively aimed at the respective lowest locating holes 411 of the outer tubes 41. At this time, release the pressure from the spring-supported press member 422, enabling the latch member 21 of each positioning mechanism to be forced outwardly by the associating compression spring 23 to engage the latch tip 22 thereof into the lowest locating hole 411 of the respective outer tube 41. Thus, the retractable handle 4 is locked in the received position.

During application, the user can press the spring-supported press member 422 to lower the links 423, moving the push member 31 of each positioning mechanism downward to compress the associating compression spring 34. During downward movement of the push member 31 of each positioning mechanism, the bottom bevel faces 3211 of the flat guide blocks 321 of the push member 31 is forced against the respective top bevel faces 2111 of the side guide blocks 211 of the latch member 21, forcing the latch member 21 toward the inside of the receiving chamber 11 to compress the associating compression spring 23 and to disengage the latch tip 22 from the locating holes 411 of the respective outer tube 41, and therefore the inner tubes 420 of the retractable handle 4 are unlocked from the outer tubes 41 and can be moved up and down relative to the outer tubes 41 to adjust the length of the retractable handle 4.

After adjustment of the inner tubes 420 relative to the outer tubes 41 to one of a series of predetermined elevational positions and release of the applied pressure from the spring-supported press member 422, the compression spring 23 of each positioning mechanism immediately pushes the associating latch member 21 from the received unlocking position to the extended locking position to engage the latch tip 22 into the corresponding locating hole 411 of the respective outer tube 41, and therefore the retractable handle 4 is locked in the adjusted position.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A positioning mechanism mounted in a bottom end of an inner tube of a retractable handle in a travel bag and stopped against a link in said inner tube of said retractable handle and movable with said link between a locking position to lock said inner tube to a respective outer tube of said retractable handle and an unlocking position to unlock said inner tube from said outer tube subject to the control of a spring-supported press member of said retractable handle, the positioning mechanism comprising: a holder block member comprising a receiving chamber, a vertical insertion slot vertically cut through a top wall thereof in communication with said receiving chamber, and a vertical track vertically disposed at a back side thereof; a latch device comprising a latch member horizontally movable in and out of said receiving chamber between said locking position and said unlocking position, said latch member comprising two side guide blocks respectively disposed at two opposite lateral sides thereof and a latch tip forwardly extended from a front side thereof, and an elastic member mounted in said receiving chamber and stopped against said latch member to support said latch member in said locking position; and an actuating device comprising a push member and an elastic member supported between said push member and the top wall of said holder block member to impart an upward pressure to said push member, said push member comprising two front arms vertically downwardly extended from a front side thereof in a parallel manner and vertically movably inserted into said vertical insertion slot of said holder block member, two flat guide blocks respectively located at an inner surface of each of said two front arms and respectively abutted against said side guide blocks of said latch member for moving said latch member in and out of said receiving chamber between said locking position and said unlocking position and two rear coupling arms vertically downwardly extended from a rear side thereof and coupled to and movable along said vertical track of said holder block member.
 2. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder block member further comprises a front opening located at a front side thereof in communication with said receiving chamber for the passing of said latch member in and out of said receiving chamber, and an inside stub rod horizontally protruded from an inside wall of said receiving chamber and aimed at said front opening to hold one end of the elastic member of said latch device.
 3. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 2, wherein said vertical insertion slot of said holder block member comprises two end portions respectively perpendicularly extended from two distal ends thereof in a parallel manner; said two front arms of said push member are respectively inserted through said end portions of said vertical insertion slot of said holder block member into said receiving chamber.
 4. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder block member further comprises an outside stub rod upwardly protruded from the top wall thereof at a rear side relative to said vertical insertion slot and adapted to hold one end of the elastic member of said actuating device.
 5. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder block member further comprises two vertical sliding slots defined in said vertical track in communication with said receiving chamber; each said rear coupling arm of said push member has a bottom end thereof terminating in a coupling tip that is coupled to and movable along one respective said vertical sliding slot.
 6. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder block member further comprises a bottom flange horizontally outwardly protruded from the periphery of a bottom side thereof and stoppable at a bottom side of said inner tube of said retractable handle.
 7. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein said holder block member further comprises a mounting through hole transversely disposed between said receiving chamber and said bottom flange and fastenable to said inner tube of said retractable handle by a fastening member.
 8. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said flat guide block of said push member defines a bottom bevel face; each said side guide block of said latch member defines a top bevel face mating with the bottom bevel face of one respective said flat guide block of said push member.
 9. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said latch member comprises a recessed hole located at a back side thereof for the positioning of one end of the elastic member of said latch device.
 10. The positioning mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein said push member comprises a bottom stub rod protruded from a bottom wall thereof and spaced between said front arms and said rear coupling arms and adapted to hold one end of the elastic member of said actuating device. 